Latest news with #AusCycling
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Australian ‘defector' Matthew Richardson becomes fastest cyclist of all-time
A year and three days since he was a toast of Australian sport by winning his third medal of the Paris Olympic Games, Matthew Richardson has now become the fastest cyclist of all-time — while pedalling furiously in Great Britain colours. The 26-year-old Richardson, who caused plenty of ill-feeling among the Australian cycling community when he decided after the Games to switch his allegiance to his birth country, has flourished ever since his 'defection'. But the English-born rider's biggest achievement yet in Team GB colours came at the Konya Velodrome in Turkey on Thursday when Richardson became the first man to smash the nine-second barrier over 200 metres on the track, clocking a landmark 8.941 seconds from a flying start. His time surpassed, by more than a tenth of a second, the previous record of 9.088sec, set by Richardson's great Dutch nemesis, Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen, at the same Paris Games last year. Richardson sped round the track at the venue, which benefits from the altitude assistance of being located at 1200m, at an average speed of 80.5kph. 'It's cool to be able to call myself the fastest cyclist of all-time,' he said. But it wasn't cool for the Australian cycling fans who still feel bitterness to Richardson. 'Vomit every time I see him race (Australian POV),' one Aussie said on social media after the record-breaking feat. Richardson learned all his cycling in Perth after moving from England as a youngster. Another fan remarked: 'Born in the UK. Made in Australia.' Richardson was a double Commonwealth champion before winning his two silvers and a bronze in the gold-and-green last August. He has since been banned for life by AusCycling after he walked away from their program. In a special record-breaking day organised by British Cycling at the speedy Turkish velodrome, conditions were perfectly set-up for Richardson. 'I was basically just a passenger. I gave the bike a bit of direction and it was just steering itself almost. I rode of lot of it outside the sprint lane, so I know there's a bit more there,' he said. And he believed his latest achievement was 'one of the biggest things I've ever done'. 'People win Olympic medals all the time, people win world championships all the time, people don't break world records all the time, and people definitely don't ride sub-nine seconds all the time, because it's never happened before,' he noted before the attempt. He wasn't the only Briton to break a world record as Will Bjergfelt set a world record for the C5 UCI Hour Record, covering 51.471km in 60 minutes. He became the first para-cyclist to break the 50km barrier.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Aussie defector becomes fastest cyclist of all-time
A year and three days since he was a toast of Australian sport by winning his third medal of the Paris Olympic Games, Matthew Richardson has now become the fastest cyclist of all-time -- while pedalling furiously in Great Britain colours. The 26-year-old Richardson, who caused plenty of ill-feeling among the Australian cycling community when he decided after the Games to switch his allegiance to his birth country, has flourished ever since his 'defection'. But the English-born rider's biggest achievement yet in Team GB colours came at the Konya Velodrome in Turkey on Thursday when Richardson became the first man to smash the nine-second barrier over 200 metres on the track, clocking a landmark 8.941 seconds from a flying start. His time surpassed, by more than a tenth of a second, the previous record of 9.088sec, set by Richardson's great Dutch nemesis, Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen, at the same Paris Games last year. Richardson sped round the track at the venue, which benefits from the altitude assistance of being located at 1200m, at an average speed of 80.5kph, leaving him to celebrate: "It's cool to be able to call myself the fastest cyclist of all-time." Richardson, who learned all his cycling in Perth after moving from England as a youngster, added: "It was a lot faster than I've previously ridden. I was basically just a passenger. I gave the bike a bit of direction and it was just steering itself almost. I rode of lot of it outside the sprint lane, so I know there's a bit more there." Richardson, who was double Commonwealth champion before winning his two silvers and a bronze in the gold-and-green last August, has since been banned for life by AusCycling after he walked away from their program. But he said he considered his latest achievement, in a special record-breaking day organised by British Cycling at the speedy Turkish velodrome, to be "one of the biggest things I've ever done". "People win Olympic medals all the time, people win world championships all the time, people don't break world records all the time, and people definitely don't ride sub-nine seconds all the time, because it's never happened before," he had noted before the attempt. He wasn't the only Briton to break a world record as Will Bjergfelt set a world record for the C5 UCI Hour Record, covering 51.471km in 60 minutes. He became the first para-cyclist to break the 50km barrier.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Swimming world reacts amid massive news about Aussie Olympic hero Susie O'Neill
Fans are expressing their delight and excitement after Susie O'Neill was elected to the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) board over the weekend - a move that many believe will pay dividends for the Brisbane Games in 2032. O'Neill is an Australian swimming legend who won eight Olympic medals (including two gold), and was widely known as 'Madame Butterfly' throughout her career. She won 35 Australian titles and 24 gold medals in all major competitions, with only Emma McKeon, Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones winning more Olympic medals for the nation. On Saturday at the AOC's annual general meeting in Sydney, O'Neill and AusCycling chairman Craig Bingham were unveiled as new board members. O'Neill declared she'll put athletes at the heart of her duties, and is eager to chip in ahead of the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. "Now is a good time in my life to get back involved in the Olympic movement," the 51-year-old told reporters. "I'm passionate about the Olympics. The lead-in to Brisbane 2032 is really exciting, I want to be a part of it, I want to be around athletes. I want to help athletes as much as I can, using my experience as an athlete and then other things I have learnt along the way." O'Neill was Australia's deputy Chef de Mission under Anna Meares at the 2021 Games in Tokyo. But she hasn't been involved in the Olympic fold for the last four years, choosing to spend her time on radio in Brisbane instead. In 2019 she opened up in a devastatingly raw admission about the pain she still felt while thinking about the silver medal she won at the 2000 Games in Sydney. O'Neill was the overwhelming favourite in her pet event on home soil - the 200m butterfly. But she had to settle for silver as 21-year-old American Misty Hyman caused a huge boilover to win. And 19 years later she was still coming to terms with it. Watching a replay of the race for the very first time on her Nova radio program 'Ash, Kip, Luttsy & Susie', O'Neill broke down in tears. 'I know it's only a swimming race and I know in my head I didn't fail, but with that I just see failure," she admitted. 'I felt like this was my race, home crowd, and to come second for me is failure. 'Of course I thought I was going to win, I'm still trying to find reasons even 19 years later. Not in my wildest dreams did I think [Hyman] was a legitimate competitor to me. Her time was three seconds slower than what she does. She was not a legitimate competitor at this point.' She admitted she felt relieved to have finally watched the race after 19 years. "It's weird," she added. "I felt so much emotion before but I feel like maybe because I'm still the same person. Just because I lost that doesn't mean I'm that for the rest of my life. I've moved on to other things. I'm not a failure … bit of a sook though.' Fans from a wide range of sports took to social media to congratulate her on the appointment to the AOC board over the weekend. Many declared Australia's Olympic team and the Brisbane Games in good hands with O'Neill helping steer the ship. "Everyone knows Susie O'Neill the swimmer, but she also has an extraordinary record in sports administration," said Ian Chesterman, who was re-elected as AOC Chairman. "She's been an IOC [International Olympic Committee] Athletes' Commission member and IOC member, she's served on the AOC executive, led an Australian youth Olympic team and was deputy chef de mission in Tokyo. She knows the business and has an incredible ability to help us moving forward." Olympic champion swimmer Susie O'Neill AM and @AusCycling Chair Craig Bingham are the newest members to join the Australian Olympic Committee Executive following elections in Sydney — AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) May 3, 2025 A busy weekend for former Olympic champion swimmer Susie O' competing at the World Bodysurfing Tour Finals, yesterday she was elected as one of two new additions to the Australian Olympic Committee Executive. — HER WAY (@herwaysports) May 3, 2025
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Swim great joins Australian Olympic Committee board
Champion swimmer Susie O'Neill says she'll put athletes at the heart of her duties as an Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) board member. O'Neill and AusCycling chairman Craig Bingham joined the board on Saturday at the AOC's annual general meeting in Sydney. Queenslander O'Neill, who won two Olympic gold medals, four silver and two bronze, is eager to chip in ahead of Brisbane's 2032 Olympics. Olympic champion swimmer Susie O'Neill AM and @AusCycling Chair Craig Bingham are the newest members to join the Australian Olympic Committee Executive following elections in Sydney — AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) May 3, 2025 "Now is a good time in my life to get back involved in the Olympic movement," the 51-year-old told reporters. "I'm passionate about the Olympics. "The lead-in to Brisbane 2032 is really exciting, I want to be a part of it, I want to be around athletes. "I want to help athletes as much as I can, using my experience as an athlete and then other things I have learnt along the way." Melbourne-based businessman Bingham said joining the board was a "great honour". "Business and sport really go hand-in-hand," he said. "It's all about people and culture. "How do we foster a great culture where everybody feels part of a high performing entity, and that's what I hope to bring." O'Neill and Bingham were elected to the two vacancies from 13 candidates.
West Australian
03-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Swim great joins Australian Olympic Committee board
Champion swimmer Susie O'Neill says she'll put athletes at the heart of her duties as an Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) board member. O'Neill and AusCycling chairman Craig Bingham joined the board on Saturday at the AOC's annual general meeting in Sydney. Queenslander O'Neill, who won two Olympic gold medals, four silver and two bronze, is eager to chip in ahead of Brisbane's 2032 Olympics. "Now is a good time in my life to get back involved in the Olympic movement," the 51-year-old told reporters. "I'm passionate about the Olympics. "The lead-in to Brisbane 2032 is really exciting, I want to be a part of it, I want to be around athletes. "I want to help athletes as much as I can, using my experience as an athlete and then other things I have learnt along the way." Melbourne-based businessman Bingham said joining the board was a "great honour". "Business and sport really go hand-in-hand," he said. "It's all about people and culture. "How do we foster a great culture where everybody feels part of a high performing entity, and that's what I hope to bring." O'Neill and Bingham were elected to the two vacancies from 13 candidates.
